Metro Projects opening in 2013/2014 (Atlanta: movies, live in, authority)

[cqholt]

You think the people who live in Oakland Park or the West End are going to benefit from an outlet mall in Woodstock or a new Ponce Market?

I do think that residents could benefit from having fresh fruit, vegetables, and foods that are easy to get to via transit.

By the way - the trend is for Atlanta itself to shrink in area, not increase. Look at the cities breaking off recently - Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Dunwoody. That trend will continue if MARTA continues to be mismanaged and tax dollars are not allocated properly, with even perhaps N Fulton (Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs) breaking off into its own county a strong possibility.

Those were all unincorporated areas, Atlanta has annexed land in the southwest every year. Georgia law states no more counties can be created.

Without Cobb and Gwinnett willing to chip in to fund expansion of transit, Atlanta is doomed to keep the 'LA of the East' label.

Then you haven't kept up with Atlanta news! Mayor Reed has been in talks with major private companies to fund a P3 for transit along the BeltLine, connection to the under-construction Downtown Street(that's new), and crosstown connections for Midtown. Also, GDOT is moving forward with a central train station for future commuter rail system. Please read all the threads pertaining to transit in Atlanta before speaking!

[wxjay]

How is a Beltline going to relieve traffic on 75 and 85 OTP? It won't. It's great for city travel, but I don't see it as the 'cool feature' that many on this forum do. I thought the StreetCar up Peachtree was a fabulous idea, but so far I don't see that moving forward.

Commuter rail is an absolutely needed step, but it relies on other counties cooperating and 'chipping in'. So far, MARTA is funded by 2 counties in the state. Other states have state funding for their mass transit systems. I will be pleasantly surprised if the Georgia State Legislature funds a commuter rail system throughout metro Atlanta. But I won't hold my breath on it.

[cqholt]

How is a Beltline going to relieve traffic on 75 and 85 OTP?

It is zoned for multi-family, multi-use development that will absorb some of the in-migration and lessen future traffic.
There is no hope for the current traffic along those corridors, unless commuter rail or MARTA HRT is expanded. Those residents choice to live and commute along already congested corridors, so its their fault for buying into a failed system.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by wxjay

How is a Beltline going to relieve traffic on 75 and 85 OTP? It won't.

That has never been part of its goal.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by cqholt

It is zoned for multi-family, multi-use development that will absorb some of the in-migration and lessen future traffic.
There is no hope for the current traffic along those corridors, unless commuter rail or MARTA HRT is expanded. Those residents choice to live and commute along already congested corridors, so its their fault for buying into a failed system.

I agree with you, which is why elevating metro Atlanta to 'another level' will be very hard to do.

I am just reiterating past arguments in this thread and other Atlanta forum threads about transit, etc. This is not particularly productive, especially in this thread about outlet malls and mixed-use projects. I think perhaps it's best to move on.

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by JPD

That has never been part of its goal.

That's Cobb and Gwinnett problem not the city of Atlanta.

[wxjay]

Originally Posted by JPD

That has never been part of its goal.

The post to which I was responding used the Beltline as a counterexample against my assertion that Cobb and Gwinnett Counties needed to get serious about mass transit to make a dent in the traffic problems.

[tonygeorgia]

Originally Posted by wxjay

I agree with you, which is why elevating metro Atlanta to 'another level' will be very hard to do.

I am just reiterating past arguments in this thread and other Atlanta forum threads about transit, etc. This is not particularly productive, especially in this thread about outlet malls and mixed-use projects. I think perhaps it's best to move on.

You have a right to your opinion. My problem is the reason you keep responding is because (in my opinion) you know what I posted is true. If I posted a thread stating Atlanta is going to be on a new level because a new Waffle House is being built downtown or if a made a thread stating Atlanta is going to be on a new level because a new club is opening you would not have even responded to this thread. The fact that you are not even living in this region but you still come in the Atlanta forum to tell us about our city tells me that you know my post is the truth. If you do not believe that these developments that will bring in an additional 10 million people at the minimum annual for the regional is not going to change the region then that is your opinion

[cqholt]

The post to which I was responding used the Beltline as a counterexample against my assertion that Cobb and Gwinnett Counties needed to get serious about mass transit to make a dent in the traffic problems.

If those counties wanted to get serious about transit, they would join MARTA.

[GeorgiatoChina]

Originally Posted by wxjay

I don't 'bash' Atlanta. I state facts. It is called the 'LA of the East'. Traffic is horrendous is most of the metro area, leading to a decreased quality of life. City planners study Atlanta for ways to avoid the sprawl.

Adding shopping malls is not elevating the city to a 'new level'. There are many improvements the metro area can make, with the proper will of the people. But most of the new projects listed are not going to improve Atlanta on the national or world stage. Having an outlet mall in Woodstock isn't suddenly going to increase tourism or make people flock to the city.

The items I listed in my prior post, however, will attract more residents, more capital, and more prosperity. Just because I am not 'ga-ga' over some new mixed-use development in the metro area is not 'bashing' it.

Only having negative things to say a about a place you don't even live is bashing. Whether you think they are true or not is irrelevant if your intent is to put down form afar.